Richard Primus
@richardprimus.bsky.social
Professor, University of Michigan Law School. Senior Editorial Adviser, Journal of American Constitutional History. I study the constitutional past and try to do my part for the rule of law in the present.
Pinned
“No doubt having a rule of law isn’t enough for a society to qualify as a good one. But those inclined to denigrate it should contemplate societies without it.”
— Don Herzog, 1989
— Don Herzog, 1989
Reposted by Richard Primus
I would decline to voluntarily cooperate. No way. Issue a subpoena and fight it out in court.
MS NOW confirms: The FBI is working with Capitol Police to schedule interviews with the six Democratic lawmakers who urged service members to refuse to comply with illegal orders.
November 25, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I would decline to voluntarily cooperate. No way. Issue a subpoena and fight it out in court.
Reposted by Richard Primus
Again, every elected Democrat needs to put out a video stating exactly what Kelly and the others said. If ever there were a line to draw in the sand, it’s here. The military is not the president’s Praetorian Guard.
“Within the White House, Trump and his lieutenants aren’t planning on letting up…Trump has told some advisers that he wants RICO prosecutions and conspiracy charges leveled against the six Democrats, a source with direct knowledge of the matter tells Zeteo…
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
November 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Again, every elected Democrat needs to put out a video stating exactly what Kelly and the others said. If ever there were a line to draw in the sand, it’s here. The military is not the president’s Praetorian Guard.
If a public official (or any American) were publicly to say "The military should be above the law," it would be speech protected by the First Amendment.
I'm pretty sure that "The military must obey applicable law" is no less protected.
I'm pretty sure that "The military must obey applicable law" is no less protected.
The Department of Defense announces it's considering "court-martial proceedings or administrative measures" against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly.
November 24, 2025 at 7:48 PM
If a public official (or any American) were publicly to say "The military should be above the law," it would be speech protected by the First Amendment.
I'm pretty sure that "The military must obey applicable law" is no less protected.
I'm pretty sure that "The military must obey applicable law" is no less protected.
The Comey/James dismissals are critically important as examples. They demonstrate that people with resources don't have to cave and give up. Caving and giving up is a choice.
November 24, 2025 at 6:48 PM
The Comey/James dismissals are critically important as examples. They demonstrate that people with resources don't have to cave and give up. Caving and giving up is a choice.
In a time of corrupt power, there is nothing so subversive as a public reminder that people have obligations to the rule of law.
The Pentagon is investigating senator Kelly for telling troops not to commit crimes. More on this story as it develops
November 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
In a time of corrupt power, there is nothing so subversive as a public reminder that people have obligations to the rule of law.
The song is great and all, but am I wrong to think that suns don't actually pull comets from orbits? Isn't the sun the thing that determines the normal orbital path?
#AmateurAstronomyRuiningArt
#AmateurAstronomyRuiningArt
November 24, 2025 at 1:14 PM
The song is great and all, but am I wrong to think that suns don't actually pull comets from orbits? Isn't the sun the thing that determines the normal orbital path?
#AmateurAstronomyRuiningArt
#AmateurAstronomyRuiningArt
Progress: In December 2024 I drove my EV to Chicago for a conference and couldn't find a place to charge overnight near my Hyde Park hotel. I just made exactly the same trip again, only this time my car charged smoothly in the hotel's self-parking area.
November 23, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Progress: In December 2024 I drove my EV to Chicago for a conference and couldn't find a place to charge overnight near my Hyde Park hotel. I just made exactly the same trip again, only this time my car charged smoothly in the hotel's self-parking area.
Reposted by Richard Primus
A very good piece. “The fact that many men believe they no longer even have to pretend to respect women in order to participate in public life makes it unlikely that anything will change anytime soon.”
President Piggy
This is what consequence-free misogyny looks like.
www.theatlantic.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:27 PM
A very good piece. “The fact that many men believe they no longer even have to pretend to respect women in order to participate in public life makes it unlikely that anything will change anytime soon.”
Reposted by Richard Primus
We’ll need to grow 50% more calories by 2050 to feed the world, and we’ll need to do it with less land. People keep telling me, no, we just need to stop wasting food and eating meat, but how’s that going? The math sucks, but the math is the math.
November 21, 2025 at 8:03 PM
We’ll need to grow 50% more calories by 2050 to feed the world, and we’ll need to do it with less land. People keep telling me, no, we just need to stop wasting food and eating meat, but how’s that going? The math sucks, but the math is the math.
Oh.
Exclusive: The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika, nooses and the Confederate flag as hate symbols.
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Oh.
Publicly reminding soldiers of the duty to refuse illegal orders, if intended to suggest the illegality of orders, is justified only when there's a reasonable likelihood of actually illegal orders.
For a president to support calls for summary execution of political opponents is justified never.
For a president to support calls for summary execution of political opponents is justified never.
November 20, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Publicly reminding soldiers of the duty to refuse illegal orders, if intended to suggest the illegality of orders, is justified only when there's a reasonable likelihood of actually illegal orders.
For a president to support calls for summary execution of political opponents is justified never.
For a president to support calls for summary execution of political opponents is justified never.
Reposted by Richard Primus
Turns out that the $16MM payoff ABC made to Trump bought them only a few months' reprieve. Weird how that happens.
Trump in response to an Epstein question: "ABC, your company, your crappy company is one of the perpetrators. I think the license should be taken away from ABC because your news is so fake and so wrong. And we have a great commissioner, a chairman, who should take a look at that."
November 18, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Turns out that the $16MM payoff ABC made to Trump bought them only a few months' reprieve. Weird how that happens.
“No doubt having a rule of law isn’t enough for a society to qualify as a good one. But those inclined to denigrate it should contemplate societies without it.”
— Don Herzog, 1989
— Don Herzog, 1989
November 18, 2025 at 1:54 PM
“No doubt having a rule of law isn’t enough for a society to qualify as a good one. But those inclined to denigrate it should contemplate societies without it.”
— Don Herzog, 1989
— Don Herzog, 1989
I was proud to join a very distinguished group of constitutional law professors organized by @dorfonlaw.bsky.social to file this SCOTUS brief in support of trans rights. www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
www.supremecourt.gov
November 17, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Reposted by Richard Primus
Chris’s whole post is amazing, including this, from E.B. White:
November 17, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Chris’s whole post is amazing, including this, from E.B. White:
Reposted by Richard Primus
If he has nothing to hide he doesn’t need a House vote. He can just release everything.
Trump now says House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files “because we have nothing to hide”
November 17, 2025 at 2:40 AM
If he has nothing to hide he doesn’t need a House vote. He can just release everything.
What perfect album came out the year you turned 16?
November 17, 2025 at 1:37 AM
What perfect album came out the year you turned 16?
If I understand correctly, the Texas A&M Regents adopted a policy that says “No system academic course will advocate race or gender ideology, or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity,” with advance permission from the administration.
Some thoughts. (1/5)
Some thoughts. (1/5)
November 15, 2025 at 10:27 PM
If I understand correctly, the Texas A&M Regents adopted a policy that says “No system academic course will advocate race or gender ideology, or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity,” with advance permission from the administration.
Some thoughts. (1/5)
Some thoughts. (1/5)
Dear Fox Sports:
Nobody likes these behind-the-backfield camera angles. Stop it and let us watch.
Thanks.
@foxsports.com.web.brid.gy
Nobody likes these behind-the-backfield camera angles. Stop it and let us watch.
Thanks.
@foxsports.com.web.brid.gy
oxsports.com.web.brid.gy
November 15, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Dear Fox Sports:
Nobody likes these behind-the-backfield camera angles. Stop it and let us watch.
Thanks.
@foxsports.com.web.brid.gy
Nobody likes these behind-the-backfield camera angles. Stop it and let us watch.
Thanks.
@foxsports.com.web.brid.gy
Today is a great day in Law 648, Constitutional Interpretation.
November 13, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Today is a great day in Law 648, Constitutional Interpretation.
By the way, I’ve recently discovered a great podcast. It’s called The Oral Talmud, with Dan Libenson and Benay Lappe. Highly recommended (for people who like such things). Knowledge of Aramaic not necessary.
November 12, 2025 at 9:31 PM
By the way, I’ve recently discovered a great podcast. It’s called The Oral Talmud, with Dan Libenson and Benay Lappe. Highly recommended (for people who like such things). Knowledge of Aramaic not necessary.
Reposted by Richard Primus
Is anyone talking about Richard Primus’ new book? This would be a GREAT way for congress to begin fixing their learned helplessness. Primus analyzes anew the popular application of the enumerated powers in the book. (Hopefully I am grasping it correctly as a layman.) @richardprimus.bsky.social
Richard Primus (@richardprimus.bsky.social)
Professor, University of Michigan Law School. Senior Editorial Adviser, Journal of American Constitutional History. I study the constitutional past and try to do my part for the rule of law in the pre...
richardprimus.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Is anyone talking about Richard Primus’ new book? This would be a GREAT way for congress to begin fixing their learned helplessness. Primus analyzes anew the popular application of the enumerated powers in the book. (Hopefully I am grasping it correctly as a layman.) @richardprimus.bsky.social
Thread. This is good news.
VICTORY: Judge Ellis granted the most powerful rebuke of the Trump admin’s immigration enforcement tactics yet — a preliminary injunction to more permanently stop the violent and lawless tactics federal agents have deployed against protestors, press, and clergy in the Chicago area.
November 6, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Thread. This is good news.
Reposted by Richard Primus
Great column by @jamellebouie.net on how a future Congress can wield its "broad array of powers" to restore our democracy. With quotes from excellent books by @richardprimus.bsky.social and my @georgetownlaw.bsky.social colleague @joshchafetz.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
Opinion | The Empty Promises of Trump’s Imperial Presidency
www.nytimes.com
November 2, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Great column by @jamellebouie.net on how a future Congress can wield its "broad array of powers" to restore our democracy. With quotes from excellent books by @richardprimus.bsky.social and my @georgetownlaw.bsky.social colleague @joshchafetz.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
Reposted by Richard Primus
Later today, with the support of @sbagen.bsky.social and @richardprimus.bsky.social, I’ll be moving a Faculty Senate resolution calling on the University of Michigan to reject the federal government’s proposed “Academic Compact.” Join the discussion if you can! docs.google.com/document/u/0...
11.3.25 Senate Motion3.docx
The University of Michigan University Senate Motion #110325-3 Resolution to Reject Participation in the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” Whereas on 1 October 2025 the Trump Admin...
docs.google.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Later today, with the support of @sbagen.bsky.social and @richardprimus.bsky.social, I’ll be moving a Faculty Senate resolution calling on the University of Michigan to reject the federal government’s proposed “Academic Compact.” Join the discussion if you can! docs.google.com/document/u/0...